DRYLAND FARMING. 349 



" The surface should be in such a condition that it will 

 neither%)low when exposed to high winds nor puddle when 

 subjected to heavy beating rains. The latter considerations 

 are of special importance when a period of several months 

 intervenes between ploughing and seeding, as in the case of 

 summer tillage or. of early winter ploughmg for spring sown 

 crops. The surface should be left in a rough, cloddy, or 

 ridged condition, and a fine dust mulch should be avoided. 



" Nothing seems to be gained by ploughing deeper than 

 five to eight inches. 



" In some cases, particularly in sandy soils, it will prob- 

 ably be of advantage to use listers and cultivate the ridges 

 down level during the growth of the crop. 



" Harrowing maize and potatoes after planting, until 

 the young plants have attained a height of a few inches, is 

 usually advantageous. 



" In growing small grains the soil surface should be 

 mellow and the soil firm beneath. This can be accomplished 

 by discing and harrowing after ploughing. 



" Land for inter-tilled crops requires less tillage between 

 ploughing and planting. 



" As forage and fodder crops can often be grown where 

 grain crops will not succeed, they must occupy an important 

 place in dry-land farming. Sufticient live stock must be kept 

 to convert these crops into finished products on the farm, and 

 sufficient forage must be produced and stored during favour- 

 able seasons to carry the live stock through specially unfavour- 

 able seasons." 



In South Africa, in parts having less than 15 inches of 

 rainfall, it is questionable whether it will pay to grow any of 

 the ordinary quick growing fodder crops. Crops under these 

 conditions can be grown by " moisture storage," that is, by 

 keeping the land quite free of weeds and cropping every alter- 

 nate or every third year. By this method the rainfall occurring 

 during the period of growth is augmented by that conserved in 

 the previous year or years, and so allows the production of a 

 crop. Experiments show" that 25 to 45 per cent, of the annual 

 rainfall can be stored in this way. 



Eegions having a rainfall of less than 15 inches are devoted 

 almost entirely to ranching, and as the chief concern of the 

 rancher is to tide his stock over periods of excessive drought 

 when the ordinary grazing fails, it would appear feasible to 

 meet the emergency by the growth of fodder trees and shrubs 

 widely spaced. 



